Spicy Pineapple Barbecue Turkey Meatballs

Tender, fresh Turkey Meatballs are smothered in a homemade Spicy Pineapple Barbecue Sauce. Full of sweet and spicy flavor, these meatballs will steal the show for sure when served as a party appetizer or as a dinner entree!

I love to make meatballs from scratch. My kids like to get in on the action too. Frozen meatballs just never taste fresh, they get freezer burn and well, they just don’t taste as good. So we opt to make our meatballs from scratch ever time. Like this, and this.

People don’t seem to like to make meatballs because they’re messy. I mean, who wants to throw their hands into a big bowl of squishy ground meat? Your kids do!! This is one of the best ways to get your kids involved in the kitchen – getting them to do those tasks that you just aren’t a fan of. My son loves getting messy so this is a perfect way to let him help.

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First you squish all the meatball ingredients together, then you plop them down on a foil lined baking sheet. I use a cookie scoop for measuring so they will cook evenly. Pop the meatballs in the oven and make the barbecue sauce, which needs just three ingredients. Combine the spicy barbecue sauce, pineapple juice and crushed pineapple together in a saute pan. I like using the saute pan because it’s flat bottomed but larger than a saucepan and not as deep, so when you add the meatballs they won’t get lost in there. I’m kind of in love with this saute pan; it’s heavy and has a copper bottom which really helps with even heating.

Let that sauce get all bubbly and turn the heat down a tad. Let it simmer because as it does the liquid will reduce down and the sauce will get thicker which will help it stick to the meatballs which is what makes them really yummy.

The last step is, once the meatballs are cooked, to let them simmer in that delicious sauce for just a bit to soak up some of that flavor while they’re fresh out of the oven.

Finally they are ready to serve. I love the Hawaiian vibe in these meatballs. The sweet and spicy sauce with the pineapple just sings Aloha to me! We have enjoyed these meatballs a multitude of ways, from toothpick appetizer style to serving it up with rice and veggies to lining them up on some fresh rolls. Whichever way you enjoy, they will be delicious and gone before you can say Mahalo!

Hi! I’m Kristin, the creative mind behind Yellow Bliss Road where you will be inspired by tons of easy to follow recipes, lots of free printables, and a little sprinkling of life thrown in for good measure.

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